Latest science news in Astronomy & Space
Electricity Found on Saturn Moon--Could It Spark Life?
Faint electrical signals in Titan's smoggy atmosphere suggest the moon has lightning, which some experts believe helped life form on Earth.
Lunchtime Salon Today in L.A.
Join the Science Blog crew this Friday, October 24 at noon in Los Angeles to discuss Obama, McCain and the sciences, courtesy of Farmlab. read more
The Case of the Missing Gamma-ray Bursts
Gamma-ray bursts are by far the brightest and most powerful explosions in the Universe, second only to the Big Bang itself. So it might seem a bit surprising that a...
Competition Heats Up for Space Station Cargo Contract
U.S. firms are vying for a $3.1 billion contract to haul NASA cargo to the space station.
Scientists see flow of gas from a quasar
GAINESVILLE, Fla., Oct. 22 (UPI) -- U.S. astronomers say a bit of serendipity has given them a surprise view of a never-before-observed event that occurs during the birth...
Vast Stellar Nursery: Claret-colored Cloud With A Massive Heart
An image of the amazing intricacies of a vast stellar nursery, which goes by the name of Gum 29, is now available. In the center, a small cluster of stars...
A Large Spiral Galaxy, NGC 7331, In All Its Splendor
The spiral galaxy NGC 7331, in Pegasus, can be seen with small telescopes under dark skies as a faint fuzzy spot. It is an island universe similar to our own...
NASA announces naming competition
WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- The U.S. space agency and the Challenger Center for Space Education are sponsoring a competition to name a habitat in Antarctica.
Laser Could Aid Search for Life on Mars
Instrument that zaps minerals, analyzes could detect biomolecules in Mars rocks.
Cosmic lens details distant galaxy
HEIDELBERG, Germany, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- German-led astronomers say they've used a "cosmic lens" to watch the violent assembly of a young galaxy in the early universe.
Ballet Dancers Are Fitter Than International Swimmers
As Mark Foster swaps his swimming trunks for his dancing shoes on Strictly Come Dancing, results of a study from the University of Hertfordshire will reveal tomorrow (23 October) that...
UK positioned for sat-nav prizes
A UK company wins the European Satellite Navigation prize for a satellite positioning-enabled lifejacket.
First Apollo Flight Crew Last to be Honored
NASA's first manned Apollo mission, Apollo 7, has received the agency's highest award.
Plumes of methane identified on Mars
Finding could influence choice of landing site for Mars Science Laboratory.
'Filament' Of Dark Matter Supports 'Bubbly' Universe Theory
Despite thousands of years of research, astronomers know next to nothing about how the universe is structured. One strong and accepted theory is that large galaxies are clustered together on...
Explorers to measure Arctic's vanishing summer ice
LONDON (Reuters) - British explorer Pen Hadow is to return to the North Pole five years after his record solo trek, in an attempt to establish when Arctic summer sea...
Telescopes focus on distant galaxies
A computer program developed by a Sydney PhD student is giving scientists a clear and detailed view of galaxies far, far away.
Space Shuttle Atlantis Returns to Storage
NASA's shuttle Atlantis is back in storage to await its Hubble telescope mission.
Ex-Astronaut Aims to Get Statement Tossed Out
An attorney for accused criminal and former NASA astronaut Lisa Nowak appeared in court Tuesday.
NASA's Party Over
NASA"s long-standing practice of honoring retirees and contractors with lavish award ceremonies costing millions of dollars a year may be over.
Planets Thought Dead Might Be Habitable
Some planets that seem too cold could be made habitable by a squishing effect from their stars.
Half-Hot, Half-Cold Planets Have Supersonic Jet Streams
Winds that reach speeds of 7,000 miles (11,265 kilometers) per hour can carry heat from the sunny side to the dark side of Jupiter-like exoplanets, a new study shows.
Cosmic Log: Fusion projects in limbo
Science editor Alan Boyle’s blog: The current round of financial uncertainty is coming at just the wrong time for America's large and small fusion research projects.
New galaxy clusters are detected
ALBUQUERQUE, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- A U.S.-led international team of scientists has detected long wavelength radio emissions from a colliding, massive galaxy cluster.
MIT finds young planets stay hotter longer
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct. 20 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they've discovered hot, young planets might be easier to spot than realized because they remain hot longer than has...
Military switches to fluorescent lights
WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Energy says 84 military bases have shifted from traditional incandescent light to the use of compact fluorescent light bulbs.
Great World Wide Star Count begins
BOULDER, Colo., Oct. 20 (UPI) -- The 2nd annual Great World Wide Star Count began around the world Monday, with schoolchildren, families and citizen scientists gazing skyward after...
Strange Weather on Alien Planets Explained
A new model explains the exotic weather on distant "hot Jupiters."